Photographic printing mask



Aug. 7, 1945.

c. c. MADDY 2,381,831

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MASK Filed Sept. 21, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 7, 1945. C, Q MADDY 2,381,831

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MASK Filed sept. 21, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 2 Inventor eys Patented Aug. 7, 1945 PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINTING MASK Charles Clifford Maddy, Cttumwa, Iowa Application September 2 2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in masks for use in forming margins around photographic prints, the principal object in view being to provide a masking frame of simple construction and rectangular form adapted for easy and quick adjustment within a wide range of variation to vary the size thereof so as to fit negatives of a wide variety of sizes and mask the edges of the` negatives uniformly regardless of size.

Other and subordinate objects are also comprehended by my invention, all of which, together with the precise nature of my improvements, will be readily understood when the succeeding description and claims are read with reference to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

1n said drawings- Figure 1 is a View in top plan of a mask constructed in accordance with my invention, in its preferred embodiment,

Figure 2 is a view in edge elevation looking at one end of the frame,

Figure 3 is a View in edge elevation looking at one side of the frame,

Figure 4 is a view in perspective of one of the side bars removed,

Figure 5 is a similar View of one of the end bars,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in transverse section taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale, and

Figure 7 is a View in longitudinal section taken on the line l-I of Figure 1 and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Reference being had to the drawings by numerals, my improved mask, as shown therein, has the form oi a rectangular frame I including a pair of opposed, flat, thin side bars 2 and a pair of opposed, relatively shorter and similar end bars 3. The bars 2 and 3, for reasons presently apparent, may be appropriately termed male and female members, respectively. The end bars 3 are designed to be imposed on the side bars 2 Ilatwise. Each side bar 2 is provided in the longitudinal and transverse center thereof, and on what constitutes the front face of the same with a longitudinally extending, relatively shorter and narrower abutment rib 4 secured thereto, as at 5, and each end bar 3 is similarly provided with an abutment rib 6 similarly secured thereto, as at 1.

The bars 2 on the front'face thereof are provided with a longitudinal central row of square pins, or pegs, 8. The end bars 3 are each pro vided with a longitudinal central roW of square 1, 1943, Serial No. 503,271

holes, or sockets, 9 of the proper size to t the pins, or pegs, 8. The pins, or pegs, B may be secured in the side bars 2 by means of rounded rivet-head pins I0. Preferably, the pins, or pegs, 8 are spaced apart in groups along the side bars 2 as folows: A group is spaced from each end of the side bar equidistantly. A second group is spaced apart diiferently, relatively, and further from the first group than the spacing of the pins in said iirst group, the p'ms in the second group being spaced closer together than the pins in the iirst group. The holes, or sockets, 9 are grouped along the end bars 2 and spaced in correspondence with the grouping and spacing of the pins, or pegs, 8.

As best illustrated in Figure l, the pins 8, and holes 9, are so arranged that the side bars 2 may be adjusted toward or from each other, and the end bars 3 similarly adjusted and in the various adjusted positions of said bars they may be fastened together by entering pins 8 in holes 9 s0 that the bars are locked against relative turning out of right-angular relation. Thus, the size of the frame I may be varied and said frame in any adjusted size always maintained in perfect rectangular form.

By virtue of the described grouping and spacing of the pins 8 and holes 9, the frame I may be adjusted to vary its size within a Wide range of variations, as will be clear.

When the frame I has been properly adjusted to size corresponding to the size of the negative, not shown, to be printed, the negative is laid on the frame, in between the ribs 4 and 6. When the negative is thus positioned, it is held in place by edge contact with the ribs 4 and 6 and the inner marginal portion of the frame I masks the marginal edge of the negative uniformly around the same,

The foregoing will, it is believed, sufce to impart a clear understanding of my invention without further explanation.

Manifestly, the invention, as described, is susceptible of modification without departing from the inventive concept, and right is herein reserved to such modiiications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A masking frame comprising a pair of opposed flat side bars, and a pair of opposed similar end bars adapted to be opposed iiatwse on the side bars to form a rectangle, and means to variably connect the side and end bars together to vary the size of the rectangle, comprising square pins on one face of the side bars,

and square sockets in the end bars for receiving said pins, said pins and sockets being arranged in rows extending along the longitudinal center of the side and end bars, respectively, said pins and sockets being arranged in groups and the pins in one group being differently spaced relative to the spacing of those in another group.

2. A masking frame comprising a pair of op posed flat side bars. and a pair of opposed smilar end bars adapted to be opposed atwise on the side bars to form a rectangle, and means to variably connect the side and end bars together to vary the, size of the rectangle, comprising square pins on one face of the side bars, and square sockets in the end bars for receiv ing said pins, said pins and sockets being arranged in rows extending along the longitudinal center of the side and end bars, respectively, and a longitudinally extending rib on each bar in the transverse center thereof, said ribs forming guides for confining a negative on the frame CHARLES C. MADDY. 

